#100 Innovative community led philanthropy, Lani Evans CEO of Te Rourou, Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation

<p>Lani Evans, MNZM, joins Purposely to share her story. A celebrated exponent of philanthropy she’s had a significant impact on the New Zealand sector since migrating here from Australia. Head of the Te Rourou, Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation, Lani is also an entrepreneur and co founder of an artisan subscription cheese company - The Cheese Cartel. She is a prolific charity trustee, volunteer, mother, runner (Ultra Marathons) and outdoor enthusiast. Lani loves getting things done, meaningful enterprise and philanthropy. ‘I believe in setting audacious goals, experimenting, measuring change and watching for unintended consequences’ Lani credits her parents as the inspiration behind her for purpose career. ‘When I was growing up my mum was always thinking about others and engaged the world with compassion and empathy. My upbringing had a huge influence on my life and the career path I chose.’ Lani was an activist from an early age, she organised a successful protest that mobilised thousands of young people in the fight against nuclear weapon’s testing by the French in the Pacific and Muriol atoll. These early efforts gave her both the motivation and the confidence to work for the community and led her to want to make a difference in the world. Currently, Lani runs Vodafone’s charitable foundation. She first interacted with the New Zealand Vodafone Foundation in 2009, as a “World of Difference” grant recipient. Now, she leads the organisation, a diverse role encompassing strategy, communications, grant-making and government relations. Under Lani’s leadership the Foundation has set ambitious goals, reaching into areas of youth justice, meaningful learning and Rangatahi Maori. Lani talks in glowing terms about Vodafone and how the Foundation utilises ‘their brilliance and resources along with their funds to make a positive and lasting difference’. Lani is committed to community empowerment and philanthropy that happens in collaboration with the very people it is helping to make the world a better place. ‘To get there we